17/01/2011
From 7th January 2011, if Dudley registered patients need to see a doctor or a nurse urgently between 6:30 pm and 8:00 am, Monday to Friday or anytime on Saturday and Sunday (and Bank Holidays), then they need to call the new number 0300 555 4566.
I would like to request that you cascade this message to all your patients and to your family if they are registered with a Dudley GP. If people forget this number, then they can always call their surgery and the answer machine message will tell them the correct number.
The service will remain the same the only difference is the number that people need to call to access it.
It is important to remember that this number for urgent help and advice only. The service will ensure that people see a doctor or a nurse if they need to. A doctor will also do a home visit if he or she decides it is necessary, in the same way as when the surgery is open.
If the operator thinks an emergency ambulance is required then they will arrange that.
If you have this number in your diary or mobile or on any letter heads, please make sure you change it to the new number: 0300 555 4566. Please advise patients to not visit the Out of Hours Primary Care Centre at Holly Hall Clinic, Dudley without calling this number first.
I would be grateful if you could tell everyone in your teams and those in other organisations whom you work with about these changes.